Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Under The Thunder is the fourth album by the Italian band OJM. This band plays some awesome Rock 'n' Roll orientated Stoner tunes. According to their record label Go Down Records, OJM is influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Stooges, MC5, Black Sabbath, Grand Funk Railroad, Kyuss and Fu Manchu. It is obvious that there is a lot of inspiration present of seventies music. Under The Thunder is a great album by a great band! Enjoy!

OJM were formed in Treviso, Italy in 1997. Since the very beginning both the Italian music press and rock ’n’ roll scene in general seemed to show a certain interest toward the band due to their personal style displaying rough guitars with a psychedelic touch and hints of Blue Cheer, Black Sabbath, MC5 and Grand Funk.

Their first recording "Extended Playing", released on Agitato Records / Venus in the February of 2001, sold over 1,000 copies. In March 2002 the label Beard Of Stars Records / Self released OJM’s debut album “Heavy” which was produced by Paul Chain and, with the help of the video “The Sleeper” on rotation on the main alternative TV channels, went sold-out in few months. The co-operation with Paul Chain continued in October of the same year when Massimo (drums) and Matteo (bass guitar) recorded with him two tracks for the album “Container” (released by Beyond Pro.) and followed him on his Italian tour. Thanks to “Heavy” the band started being acclaimed outside Italian borders, also corroborated by Beard Of Stars’ worldwide distribution (Cargo, Century Media, Abraxas, High Been Music, Self) and by a large number of interviews and good reviews that appeared in the foreign press (Kerrang!, Stonerrock.com, Stonedgods, Greek and French Metal Hammer, etc…).

OJM’s musical attitude had meanwhile started exploring different soundscapes, more rock’n’roll-oriented, the result of the which eventually being a split 7” with the British band Gorilla, again on Beard Of Stars.

In October 2003 the band went back to the studio to work on “The Light Album”, released in September 2004 on Go Down Records and distributed in Italy by Audioglobe and in Europe by Sonic Rendevouz / Cargo. The album was entitled “light” because it marked a subtle change in their musical orientation, as the “stoner” attitude of the very beginning made way to a garage and psychedelic sound still keeping its impact and loudness but in a rougher way: rage turned into aggressiveness!

The video (and first album single) “Talking About Revolution” brought OJM on the main music TV networks in Italy (MTV, ROCK TV, ALL MUSIC, YOSTV, etc) and gave them significant public and critical acclaims.

As far as their live career goes, OJM can boast hundreds of gigs and two UK tours, intense and wild performances supporting several legendary bands such as DKT/MC5, IGGY AND THE STOOGES, THE DATSUNS, Motorpsycho, Brant Bjork, Lords Of Altamont, Gorilla, Marlene Kuntz, Hardcore Superstar, Nebula, Josiah, The Fleshtones and many more.

After the release of “The Light Llbum” the line-up changed. New entries Alex Germany (guitars, replacing Frank Puglie) and Andrew Pozzy (bass guitars, replacing Mojomatics’ Matt Bordin) enforced their impact and their groove resulting into a mixture of psychedelia, stoner and rock’n’roll…. Zeppelin-oriented and sonic at the same time!

In July 2005 OJM entered the studio once again, this time with Brant Bjork as a guest and to record the songs which would be soon released on the “I Got Time” 7”.

In March 2006 they began working on the new album with a remarkable producer: Michael Davis from the legendary MC5! Their efforts would be eventually released in November 2007 on Go Down Records / Audioglobe in Italy with the name of “Under The Thunder”. After the album came out, the band plays in Europe: three UK and two European tours (Germany, Spain, France). “Under The Thunder” sold more than 3,000 copies all over the world and comes out on vinyl for Garage Records / Goodfellas.

In April 2008 first OJM’s live album “Live In France” was released, initially on free download only (7,000 downloads) and exclusively for Rockit.it and then on blue vinyl in 500 numbered copies for Go Down Records.

In July 2008 they were invited to the most important German stoner festival Stoned From The Underground and co-headlined the event with The Atomic Bitchwax and Witchcraft.

In December 2008 they embarked on a 10-show tour with EEviac, a special show that saw the band surrounded by 4 screens and a minimal stage décor and that merged sounds and colours in a psychedelic atmosphere performed live by EEviac.

After a break following the “Under The Thunder” tours and the EEviac Rock Shows, OJM have returned to the stage with a very special line-up! David and Max have kept their usual roles behind microphone and drums while Andrew Pozzy has embraced guitar (after his experience with The Sade) in substitution of Alex (forced to leave the band for a few months due to personal reasons). The fourth member is Stefano Pasky who handles piano-bass and organ, previously occasional OJM’s guest on their EEviac Rock Show and currently essential member of Poison Deluxe which also feature Max on drums and Frank Puglie (ex-OJM) on guitar. OJM are exceptionally performing a special show displaying the classic OJM “trademark” though evolving with a more psychedelic and less speed-rock’n’roll vein, proposing a more vintage yet less aggressive hard rock!

In November 2009 OJM will be back to live action again for 4 shows, including the special ten-year celebration night of the fanzine VINCEBUS ERUPTUM which will release a special number (in cooperation with Rumore staff) with a cover showing a drawing of Malleus’.

Fifth OJM album will see the light in September 2010 on Go Down Records produced by Dave Catching (Eagles Of Death Metal, Queens Of The Stone Age).

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